Corn butting machine



June 28, 1932. v w w MQRRAL 1,864,663

CORN-BUTTING MACHINE Filed .Jan. 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 //\/l NTOR. 29 Z6 Z8 Z4 bW/L IAMW MORE his ATTORNEY June 28, 1932. w. w. IMO'RRAL 1,854,663

CORN BUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 6 4 /NVENTOR.

WILL/AM w. MORE/4L,

U k M5 ATTORNEY Ju ne'28', 1932. w, w, MORRAL I 1,864,663

CORN BUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M5 ATTORNEY Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIAM W. MORRAL, QF MORE-AL, OHIO CORN BUTTING MACHINE Application filed January 28, 1929. Serial No. 335,467.

This invention relates to a corn butting and husking machine.

One Object of the invention is to provide such a machine having improved means for feeding the ears to the butt removing device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a double butting and husking machine in which separate butt removing devices will 'deliver the ears respectively to husking rollers in positions parallel with the length of those disks 2 and 3 rotatably mounted on parallel rollers.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine in which the husking rollers will be provided with devices for turni-Z ing the ears about their longitudinal axes to bring difi'erent portions thereof into contact with the rollers.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a butt removing mechanism, which may form part of a combined butter and husker; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of such a butt removing mechanism; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a. similar butt removing mechanism having modified feeding mechanism; Fig. 4

a double corn butting and husking machine Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a section taken on theline 10-10 of Fig. 9, showing the ear turning device; Fig. 11 is a plan view of portions of one pair of husking rollers showing a modihed form of ear turnlng device; F 1g. 12 1s a section taken transversely of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a modified form of double corn butter and husker. In these drawings I have illustrated sevi eral embodiments of my invention but it will be understood that these embodiments have been chosen for the purposes of illustration only and the mechanism may take various to forms and may be assembled in various ways 1s an end elevation of the machine of Fig.

vention.

In Figs. 1 and'2 I have shown a butt-'removing mechanism which may, if desired, form part of a combined but-t removing and husking mechanism. As there shown, the machine comprises a main frame 1. having mounted near one end thereof a butt removing device which, in the present instance, comprises a pair of overlapping blades or tion to the butt removing device and advance the butt toward the butt removing device as the body of the ear is advanced by the feeding mechanism. The feeding mechanism comprises upper and lower feeding devices, the lower feeding device being here shown as comprising a rotatable drum 8 mounted on a fixed axis and having a series of longitudinally extending peripheral grooves 9. The upper feeding device comprises in part a similar drum 1O having a circumferential series of longitudinally extending peripheral grooves 11. The, peripheral grooves of the two drums are ar-- ranged to be brought into line as the drums rotate and to receive between them ears of corn and feed these ears to the butt removing device. A feeding mechanism comprising similar drums is shown and described but not. claimed in the application filed by me May 16, 1928, Serial No. 278,212. Preferably the upper drum 10 is movable toward and from the lower drum and to this end I have shown the same as carried by a shaft 12 which is journaled in an elongated bearing-13 carried by an arm 14 ournaled on the shaft 4 of the upper butt removing blade or disk 2. The upper feeding device further comprises. a short spiral roller 15 arranged in advance of the drums 8 and 10 and above the discharge end of a conveyor 16. This conveyor is here. shown as an endless belt or chain the upper ISO feeding mechanism.

stretch of which travels through a troughlike chute 17, the forward side of which is cut away, as shown at 18, to permit the ear to be moved laterally from the conveyor. The spiral feeding roller 15 is preferably yieldably mounted so that it may accommodate itself to ears of difierent sizes and is here shown as carried by an arm 34 pivotallymounted on the shaft of the upper gaging roller 6. If desired, the weight of the roller may be counterbalanced or partially counterbalanced by a spring 35' which is connected with an arm 36 extending upwardly from the arm 34:. r

Arranged between the gaging rollers 6 and the feeding mechanism is a husk loosening device which preferably consists of a pair of resilient arms 19 which, adjacent to the conveyor'16, are spaced one from the other far enough to permit the passage of an ear of corn betweenthem and which converge forwardly and have their forward portions pro vided with prongs or teeth to engage the husks of an ear of corn and loosen the same as the ear is advanced by the feeding mechan1sm. 1

In operationthe ears of corn are deposited one at a time on the conveyor 6 with the butt ends foremost and are carried by the conveyor beneath the short spiral roller 15' which cooperates with the conveyor to move the butt end of the ear into engagement with the gaging rollers and which also serves to move the ear transversely to its length off the conveyor and into engagement with the feeding'drums 8 and 10. The lower member of the husk drop into contact with the lower feeding drum 8 which would immediately lift the same to its proper position. The two drums then engage the ear and move it forwardly 1; into contact with the butt removing device,

or cutters 2 and 3, which sever the butt therefrom. The car may be discharged from the butt removing devicein any desired manner butprefera-bly is discharged directly to the husking rollers as will hereinafter appear.

In Figs. 3-to 6 I have illustrated butt removing mechanism which in most respects is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but which employs a slightly different form of Mounted GIT-tile supporting frame 21 is a butt removing device which, in thepresent instance, comprises a, single rotary blade 22 carried ,by a shaft and cooperating with the cutter bar 2e. Arranged in advance of this butt removing device are gaging rollers 25 which position the ear with relation to the butt removing device and advance the butt toward that device. A

husk loosening device 26 similar to that above rollers between the same and the feeding mechanism. The feeding mechanism comprises upper and lower rotatable members, the upper feeding member being in the form of a spiral roller 27 and the lower feeding device being in the form of a spiral roller 28 of a length considerably less than the length of the upper feeding roller 27. A conveyor 29 operating in a trou h or chute 80, as above described, has its discharge end arranged in advance of the lower feeding roller and beneath the rear end of the upper feeding roller so that ears of corn will be delivered by the conveyor beneath the upper feeding roller which will cooperate with the conveyor to move the ear toward the gaging rollers and will simultaneously advance the ear so as to move the same off of the conveyor and into engagement. with the lower feeding roller 28. The two feeding rollers will then cooperate to move-the ear to and past the butt removing device.

Preferably the upper feeding roller 27 is movable toward and from the lower feeding roller. As here shown, this roller is carried by arms 31 and 32 which are pivotally mounted on or adjacent to the axis of the upper gaging roller. In this manner the upper feeding roller is permittedto rise and fall so as to accommodate itself to ears of different sizes and it may, if desired, be counterbalanced or partly counterbalanced by springs 83.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a slight modification of the feeding mechanism shown in Figs. 8 to 6. As there shown,the butt removing device comprises two blades or rotary disks 37 and a pair of spiral gaging rollers 88 arranged in the manner above described. The feeding mechanism comprises two lower spiral rollers 39, arranged in the same horizon- -tal plane, and in place of an upper roller I have provided a movable plate or shoe 40 which is yieldably supported above the rollers 39 by an arm or arms ll, which arm is acted upon by a spring 42 to press the shoe into contact with an ear resting on the lower feeding rollers. The shoe is of a length substantially equal to the length of the feeding rollers and the ear is delivered thereto by a conveyor 48. In thisform of device the two lower feeding rollers hold the ear against tilting movement and the yieldable shoe 40 presses the same into contact with the spiral rollers so that it will be advanced thereby.

In Figs. 8 and 10 I have illustrated a double butting and husking machine which embodies within itself two complete butting and husking mechanisms operating from a common source of power and through driving mechanism which in part is common to both devices. The arrangement is simple and has the advantage of compactness as it will occupy much less floor space than would two separate machines capable of performing the same amount of work. The several parts of this double machine are mounted on a single frame 44. Near the center of the frame is mounted two pairs of inclined husking rollers 45 and 46. Preferably one roller of each pair, in the present instance the roller 45, is arranged on a slightly lower level than the other roller, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 10. The husking rollers may be ofany grooved drum 50,1riounted on a fixed axis,and

an upper grooved drum 51 mounted on a move able axis. The upper feeding device also conr prises a short spiral roller 52 beneath which extends the conveyor 58. The butting operation is the same as that described inconnection with the device of Figs. 1 and 2 and the butted ears are delivered from the butt removing mechanism to the respective pairs of husking rollers by inclined chutes 54, the arrangement being such that the ears will move transversely to their length from the butt removing device to the bushing rollers and will be delivered to the husking rollers in positions parallel with the axes thereof and will travel downwardly along the husking rollers, the latter being in the present.

instance inclined so that the cars will down the same by gravity.

If desired, the husking rollers may be provided with means for turning the earsabout travel their longitudinal axes as they travel alongthe bushing rollers, so as to present difi'erent portions of the same to the rollers. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the lower roller 45 of each pair of husking rollers is provided with circumferential grooves 55 in each of which is mounted a turning device or agi-v tator plate 56. As here shown, the plate 56 has a longitudinal slot 57 to receive the reduced portion of the roller, the roller being preferably made in sections and the agitator plates mounted thereon when the several sections are assembled. The turning device or plate 56 is of such a character that when in its lowermost position the upper edge thereof will lie below the surface of the husking roller 45 but when the plate is elevated this upper edge will project above the roller and engage the adjacent side of an ear which rests in contact With the two husking rollers,

thus causing that ear to betur'ned abont its longitudinal axis. Movement may be imparted t0 the turning device or plate 56 in any suitable manner but 'I'prefer to utilize a cam for this purpose and to this end each plate has in" its lower portion an opening 58 through which extends a shaft 59. Big idly secured to this shaft and arranged within the respective openings'58 are eccentric disksor cams 60 so arranged that as the shaft rotates the cams will engage the upper edges of the respective openings and elevate the plate. Springs 61 serve to move the turning devices to their lowermost positions and to' hold the same in contact with the cams 60.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown a different form of ear turning device. 'As there shown, both the upper roller 62 and the lower roller 63 are provided with circumferential grooves 64 and 65, respectively; Bigidly secured to the lower roller, in the groove 65..

is an eccentric disk 66 which projects beyond one side only of the roller 63 and which is adapted to enter the groove 64 of the roller 62 as the'rollers rotate. It will be apparent that once during each rotation of the roller 63 this eccentric disk will engage an ear resting upon the two rollers and impart a turning movement thereto. Y I 1 In Fig. 13 there is shown a modified form of a double butting and husking machine in which the ear travels parallel with the husking rollers during the butting operation. 2 In this machine the husking mechanism comprises two pairs of husking rollers 67 and 68 arranged substantially as described in connection with Figs. 8 to 10. Arranged on each side of the bushing rollers is a butting mecha nism which as here shown comprises a rotatable blade 69 mounted'on a shaft 70 extending transversely to the husking rollers, the blades 69 of .the two butt removing devices being mounted on the same shaft. Arranged in ad Vance of the butt removing device and extending lengthwise of the husking rollers is a pair of spiral gaging rollers 71. The gaging rollers of the two butt removing devices being driven from a common shaft 76. Arranged parallel with the gaging rollers is the feeding mechanism which-comprises two lower feedlng rollers 72 and 73 arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, and a single upper feeding roller 74 arranged above and in a vertical plane between the axes of the two'lower feeding rollers. The cars are delivered to the feeding mechanism by a conveyor 76 similar to that above described and the lower feeding roller 72 is cut away or shortened to permit the discharge end of the conveyor to extend beneath the upper feeding roller 74. As the ears are carried past the butt removing device, by the feeding rollers, they are discharged into inclined chutes 75 down which they move by gravity to the respective pairs of husking rollers 67 and 68.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention I-wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having nowfully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is v 1. In a mechanism of the character, de-

m scribed, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device, a feeding member extending lengthwise of said gaging device, means to guide an ear of corn into engagement with said gaging device and comprising a part extending across said feeding member to support said ear of corn in engagement therewith, and another feeding member arranged between said guiding means and said y butt removing device to engage said ear of corn when the latter has been moved laterally with relation to said guiding means by the firstmentioned feeding member.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device, a spiral feeding member extending lengthwise of said gaging device, means fordelivering an ear of corn ggl'tO said gaging device and comprising a con- "veyor having a part extending beneath said spiral roller, and a feeding member arranged between said conveyor and said butt removing device to engage the ear of corn when it has 5.. been moved transversely with relation to said conveyor by said spiral feeding member.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device, means to guide an ear of corn into engagement with said gaging device, and a mechanism to feed said ear of corn to said butt removing device and comprising an upper spiral roller arranged above 51 the inner end portion of said guiding means, and a lower rotatable grooved feeding'mernber arranged between said guiding means and said but-t removlng device to receive said ear of corn from said guiding means after it has been moved into engagement with said gaging device. I a

4. In a machine of the character described,

a butt removing device, a gaging device toposition an ear of corn with relation to said as. butt removing device, a feeding mechanism tomove said ear of corn toward and past said butt removing device and comprising upper feeding means and lower feeding means, said upper feeding means having a part extending rearwardly beyond the lower feeding means, and a conveyor arranged transversely to said feeding mechanism and having one end extending beneath the rearwardly extending part of said upper feeding means.

9. 5. In a machine of the character described,

roller extending rearwardly beyond said lower feeding means, and a conveyor arranged transversely to said feeding mechanism and having its discharge end arranged beneath said spiral roller, whereby said roller will cooperate therewith in moving the ear into engagement with said gaging device and will move said ear transversely of its length into engagement with said lower feeding means.

6. In a machine of the character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device, a feeding mechanism to move said ear of'corn toward and past said butt removing device and comprising upper feeding means and lower feeding means, said upper feeding means having a part extending rearwardly beyond the lower feeding means, and a device for delivering ears of corn to said feeding mechanism comprising a trough extending transversely to said feeding mechanism and having its front wall spaced from said upper feeding means, and a conveyor extending through said trough and beneath the rearwardly extending portion of said upper feeding means.

7. In a machine of the character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device, feeding rollers rotatable about axes transverse to said gaging device, and each having a series of peripheral grooves extending axially thereof, said feeding rollers being arranged to receive an ear of corn between them in corresponding grooves and move said ear toward said butt removing device, and means arranged in advance of said feeding rollers to move an ear of corn intoengagement with said gaging device and to then deliver said ear of corn to said feeding rollers.

8. In a machine of the character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device, feeding rollers rotatable about axes transverse to said gaging de vice and each having a series of peripheral grooves extending axially thereof, said feed ing rollers being arranged to receive an ear of corn between them and move said ear toward said butt removing device, means for guiding an ear of corn into engagement with said gaging. device, and means for moving said ear of corn into engagement with said feeding rollers.

9. In a machine of the character described,

abutt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said ion butt removing device and having means to grooved feeding members arranged between said conveyor and said butt removing device to recelve said ear of corn between them and to move the same into engagement with said butt removing device, and a device arranged above the discharge end of said conveyor to move sald ear of corn transversely to 1ts length from said conveyor into engagement with said feeding members.

10. In a machine of the character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device and having means to advance the butt end of said ear toward said butt removing device, a conveyor to deliver an ear of corn in the direction of its length to said gaging device, a pair of feeding drums arranged between said conveyor and said butt removing device on axes transverse to said gaging device and each having a series of peripheral grooves extending axially thereof, and a spiral roller extending above the discharge end of said conveyor to move an ear of corn transversely to its length from said conveyor into engagement with said grooved feeding drums.

11. In a machine of the character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device and having means to advance the butt end of said ear toward said butt removing device, a conveyor to deliver an ear of corn in the direction of its length to said gaging device, a feeding mechanism comprising upper and lower grooved feeding members arranged between said conveyor and said butt removing device to receive said ear of corn between them and to move the same into engagement with said butt removing device, a. device arranged above the discharge end of said conveyor to move said ear of corn transversely to its length from said conveyor into engagement with said feeding members, and a pair of husk loosening members arranged between said gaging device and said feeding mechanism and having those portions thereof which are adjacent to said conveyor spaced apart to permit an ear of corn to pass between the same into engagement with said gaging device, the lower husk loosening member serving to support the ear as it is moved from said conveyor.

12. In a machine of the character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to receive the butt end of an ear of corn and position the same with relation to said butt removing device, cooperating feeding wheels mounted for rotation about axes ex tending transversely to said gaging device 'andjarrangedtoreceive anear of corn be tweenthem and move said ear toward'said butt removing device, and means arranged in advance OfSELIdIBQdIIIg wheels formovmg. an ear of corn into engagement with said gaging device and for then moving said ear transversely to its length to said feeding wheels. 13. In a machine of the character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an'ear ofcorn with relation to said butt removing device, cooperating feeding member's mounted for rotation about axes extending transevrscly to said gaging device and arranged to receive an ear of corn .between them and more saidv ear toward said butt removing device, means for guiding an ear of corn in the direction of its length into engagement with said gaging device, and means for moving'sald ear of corn transversely ,to its length from said guiding means into engagement with said feedingmembers.

14, Ina machine of the character described,a butt'removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device, and having means to advance the butt end of said ear toward said butt removing device, a conveyor to deliver an ear of corn in the direction of its length to said gaging device, feeding mechanism comprising upper and lower feeding members mounted between said conveyor and said butt removing device for rotation about axes extending transversely to.

said gaging device, and arranged to receive anear of corn between them and move the same toward said butt removing device, and

a device arranged above the discharge end of said conveyor to move said ear of corn transversely to its length from said conveyor into engagement with said feeding members.

15. In a machine of the character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device, and having means to advance the butt end of said ear toward said butt removing device, a conveyor to deliver an ear of corn in the direction of its length to said gaging device, feeding mechanism comprising upper and lower feeding members mounted between said conveyor and said butt removing device for rotation about axes extending transversely to said gaging device and arranged to receive an ear of corn between them and move the same toward said butt removing device, and a spiral roller extending above the discharge end of said conveyor to move an ear of corn transverselyto its length from said conveyor into engagement with said feeding members.

16. In a machine of the 'character described, a butt removing device, a gaging device to position an ear of corn with relation to said butt removing device, and havear toward said butt removing device, a conveyor to deliveran ear of corn in the direction of its length to said gaging device, feed- 7 ing mechanism comprising upper and lower feeding members mounted between said conveyor and said butt removing device for rotation about axes extending transversely to said gaging device, and arranged to receive an ear of corn between them and move the 10 same toward said butt removing device, a device arranged above the discharge end of said conveyor to move said ear of corn transversely to its length from said conveyor into engagement with said feeding members, and a pair of husk loosening members arranged between said gaging device and said feeding mechanism and having those portions thereof which are adjacent to said conveyor spaced apart to permit the ear of corn to pass between them into engagement with said gaging device.

In testimony whereof, Iaflix my signature hereto. 7

WILLIAM W. MORRAL.

i so 

